Delhi court acquits Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in excise policy case, CBI to appeal

A Delhi trial court has acquitted former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

In its order, the court said the Central Bureau of Investigation did not present sufficient evidence to substantiate allegations linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy. The judge observed that serious criminal charges require strong and credible proof and cannot be based on assumptions.

The case centred on alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s 2021–22 excise policy, which had drawn political controversy and multiple investigations. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia had denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the policy was intended to reform the liquor trade and increase transparency.

Following the acquittal, the CBI said it would challenge the lower court’s decision before the Delhi High Court. The agency stated that key evidence and investigative findings were not adequately considered and that it will seek intervention from the higher judiciary.

The developments are significant in the context of ongoing legal and political battles involving senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, with implications for governance and opposition politics at the national level.